Menopause - what's it like, really?

[NoNoNoNo]

So I'm 43, and my periods have become a little irregular ... and not in a pregnancy way, thank goodness! I'm not sure how i feel about impending menopause. I'm not even sure how impending it is, or what it will be like, or if all that shite about hot flushes and sweats comes from the same scare-the-women factory as all those painful labour stories. Or from the HRT merchants. Or something

So, mums who've experienced menopause - what's it like? How did you feel about it? Did you get HRT? Would you recommend it?

And mums who are approaching it - what do you think? Can we talk about it a bit?

nobody???

Bump

I have just turned 48 and over the last few years my periods have for the first time in my life become regular and are a bit heavier. I assume this is something to do with the impending menopause.I don't seem to have any other symptoms yet, other than sometimes feeling a bit hot, but don't know if it classes as a hot flush. To be honest I really don't know what to expect and haven't thought too much about it so would also be interested to hear other people's experiences.

I was 48 back in Feb, and like Hulluballoo, ny periods have finally become regualar (why the hell they couldnt have been like that for the last 35 yerars I dont know )

geeting the night flushes and every two months getting a bit of PMT which Ive never had, so I guess it has started. Roll on when it finshes!

i am 45 and periods have stopped. I have the mirena coil but used to have bad pmt and at least something........makes you wonder

For me it was an absolute doddle.
I haven't suffered one iota. Menopaused at 36 was HRT for about 10+ years to protect my bones. I had a bone density scan a couple of years ago and I'm fine.

My periods started when I was 16 so only suffered the curse for 20 years! I know I'm lucky not to suffer.

bumping hopefully ...

"So, mums who've experienced menopause -

1. what's it like?
   GREAT, FOR ME A DODDLE

2. How did you feel about it?
   DIDN'T FAZE ME ONE BIT, NO MORE PERIODS, GREAT (I remember my mother saying she felt sad about the fact that she couldn't have more children even though she didn't want any if that makes sense - I didn't feel any of that)

3. Did you get HRT?
   YES, I FOUND ONE THAT YOU DON'T GET A BLEED WITH

4. Would you recommend it?
   YES

I went through Menopause at 42, after 2 (!) very irregular periods - one almost non-existant, one which sent me to the doctor worried about blood loss after bleeding heavily for 2 weeks (it lasted 3 weeks in all).
I suffered from hot flushes. The worst bit about that was that they added to my already disturbed (by 2 year old) sleep - if I woke up in the night for any reason I would have a hot flush which stopped me getting back to sleep for ages....... A problem if like me you are a very light sleeper.
The worst thing though was the incasdescent rage. I felt like an unexploded bomb - a bit like bad PMT I suppose (I never had PMT, so speculating here) except that it didn't go away when my period arrived, because there was no period....
After 6 months of having to sit on my hands to stop me hitting ds, and being very bad tempered with dh, despite my best efforts, I went to the Dr. and am now much better on HRT.
Other people I know have had really volatile mood swings - tearful and upset one week, angry (virtually homicidal) the next, and soome have woken up at night, every night, having to change all their bedclothes because of night sweats.

Nadine, what made you suspect you were going through the menopause?

So HRT seems to be the way, then?